Pronunciation: ma-LEF-ee-cuh
Meaning: Witch
Author/s: Prieto-Márquez and Wagner (2022)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Texas, USA
Discovery Chart Position: #1082
Malefica deckerti
(Deckert's Witch)Etymology
Malefica is derived from the Latin "maleficens" (evil in intent), in reference to its discovery in Bruja Canyon (in Spanish, "Bruja" means "witch").
The species epithet, deckerti, honours Frank Deckert, the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park who discovered the holotype specimen.
Discovery
The remains of Malefica were discovered in the upper shale member of the Aguja Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA, by Frank Deckert.The holotype (TxVP 41917-1) is a partial left maxilla (tooth-bearing bone of the upper jaw).
